Festivals, Nature Walks And More: 5 Fun Fall Activities For The Family

Fall is a beautiful season. Crisp, sunny days, sweater weather, warm colors, pumpkin spice — there’s plenty to enjoy. Even better, the milder temperatures make spending time outdoors enticing. This combination is perfect for slowing down and spending time with family.

Whether you’re looking to marvel at nature, get creative with seasonal crafts, or enjoy fall-specific activities, there’s something for everyone. To help you take advantage of the season, here are five fun activities for the whole family.

If you’re looking for a great day trip, consider going apple picking. With over 2,200 apple orchards around the country, you won’t have to worry about traveling far. Many orchards cater to families, offering wagon rides, mazes, petting zoos, picnic areas, games, and other activities besides apple picking. 

A simple Google search for orchards in your area will yield plenty of options such as Apple Jack Orchards. Voted one of Minnesota’s best orchards, you can easily spend the entire day here. Their website has a detailed map of all available activities and there is a lot to do! Tickets cost between $10 and $20 per person, include admission to at least 20 activities, and are available on the website.

Fall is pumpkin season and decorating pumpkins is a fun way to pass a rainy day. Make it an event by starting with a trip to a local store to choose your pumpkins. To add a layer of excitement, make it a family contest. Depending on your children’s ages, you can adjust the decorating from traditional carving to painting, drawing, or using glue-on objects. Get creative with the theme each year, asking your children for input but having suggestions prepared. Some possibilities include monsters, self-portraits, silly faces, or cartoon characters.

The season’s changing colors are breathtaking to see, especially in areas known for beautiful fall foliage. A popular destination is Fall’s Color Capital, Stowe, Vermont. With plenty to do around Stowe, this makes for a great weekend trip.

You’ll find plenty of nature trails in the area if you’d like to take your kids hiking with a picnic break. Stowe’s tourism website has a Foliage Finder that offers scenic drive options if hiking isn’t your thing. You can also find a 3-day fall foliage itinerary and an adventure guide with activities such as paddling, biking, ziplining, and gondola rides to experience the blaze of colors in different ways.

While it might not be as popular or well-known as Halloween, Oktoberfest is an annual fall folk festival that dates back to 1810 Germany. The festival has grown to include live music, contests, and games alongside traditional German food and beer. 

While there are many Oktoberfest celebrations around the United States, one of the best according to USA Today is in Big Bear Lake, Calif. The festival runs on weekends from early September to early November. You can compete in log sawing and stein holding while your children try their hand at mug holding and the pretzel toss. Tickets are reasonably priced with Sunday Family Fun packages available.

Observed right after Halloween, the Day of the Dead is a cultural celebration of life and death with roots in Mexico. It is believed that a passage opens between our world and the spirit world, allowing deceased loved ones to visit. Far from being somber, these days are full of music, laughter, food, and elaborate alters celebrating the lives of loved ones. These festivals are held in major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and the Muertos Fest in San Antonio, Texas. They happen every October, so be sure to put this one on your calendar for next year.